Rohtas: The Election Commission has removed the Returning Officer for Bihar’s Chenari Assembly constituency following unrest at a counting centre in Sasaram, Rohtas district. The move came amid allegations of irregularities involving electronic voting machines (EVMs).
In an order issued on Thursday, Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, Vinod Singh Gunjyal, directed the District Election Officer and District Magistrate (DM) of Rohtas to relieve Returning Officer Lalit Bhushan Ranjan of all election duties with immediate effect. Zafar Hasan has been appointed as his replacement, effective from 4 p.m. The DM was further instructed to exclude Ranjan from all ongoing election-related activities, including vote counting.
The action follows an incident late on Wednesday night when candidates and their supporters gathered outside the Takiya Market Committee premises in Sasaram—where EVMs were stored—accusing officials of tampering. Protesters claimed CCTV cameras inside the strong room and at the gate had been switched off. Tensions escalated when a truck entered the compound and remained there for about three hours, prompting suspicions that EVMs were being moved.
When the truck attempted to leave, several candidates and their supporters blocked its path, demanding an explanation for why it had been allowed inside the premises and why surveillance cameras were disabled. Candidates from all seven assembly constituencies in Rohtas district, including Chenari, joined the protest. Around 2.30 a.m., police intervened and dispersed the crowd using a lathi charge.
According to reports, the truck was linked to the Chenari Assembly constituency. District Magistrate Udita Singh later sought an explanation from Ranjan, confirming that the vehicle contained only empty boxes, not EVMs, and dismissing the allegations as unfounded.
